In order to research his role in the film, Danny Glover actually went incognito as a homeless person to get the feel for the struggles and hardship that homeless people endure.
The scenes where Ving Rhames and company rob and beat people for their personal belongs at the homeless shelter, are actually based on real-life events that actually take place in most shelters of this kind.
This was the second time Matt Dillon and Director Tim Hunter worked together. The first time being Tex (1982).
Matt Dillon studied schizophrenia for two months to get into character.
This film was to be a documentary, after Tim Hunter spoke to Officer Devon Riley, who then met with Ving Rhames to prep for the role.